The Nest Environment of the American Crocodile (Crocodylus acutus)
Lutz PL and Dunbar-Cooper A. 1982. The Nest Environment of the American Crocodile (Crocodylus acutus). SFRC T-671. South Florida Natural Resources Center. Homestead, Florida
The American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) population in southern Florida has shown a steady decline over the last century, and it has been suggested (Ogden, 1978) that recent protective efforts may not have been successful in reversing this trend, although the population may be stabilizing in recent year (Kushlan, in press; Kushlan and Mazzotti, in prep.). On the assumption that adults are adequately protected, any decline would most likely be due to inadequate recruitment from younger stock. Causes for the latter could be a decreased reproductive success resulting in fewer eggs laid, or an increased mortality at some stage in development between the embryo and the juvenile.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Lutz, Peter; Dunbar-Cooper, Ann
- Date of Issue
- 1982-06
- Publisher
- South Florida Natural Resources Center
- Units
- EVER
- Keywords
- crocodile, everglades, Nest, SFNRCTRS